Portable solar power trailer with rotatable panels

Abstract

A standalone portable solar power system includes a trailer, solar panels mounted on rotating beams, a battery, a battery management system, an inverter and a power outlet. The trailer can be towed and the first and second groups of solar panels are locked in a vertically orientation for transportation. At the use site, the trailer can be positioned with the rotating beams parallel with the equator and the solar panels rotated to captures the maximum amount of sunlight.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable solar power system comprising:
 a trailer having a frame having a center axis, two wheels coupled to opposite sides of the center axis of the frame, a trailer hitch on the center axis and coupled to the frame for towing the trailer; 
 a plurality of posts mounted to the frame of the trailer; 
 a first beam rotatably coupled to the posts mounted at left front and left back portions of the frame; 
 a second beam rotatably coupled to the posts mounted at right front and right back portions of the frame; 
 a first group of solar panels mounted on the first beam; 
 a second group of solar panels mounted on the second beam; 
 a battery pack; 
 a battery management system coupled between the first group of solar panels, the second group of solar panels and the battery pack, the battery management system receiving DC power from the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels, transmitting the DC power to the battery pack and preventing the battery pack from being over charged; 
 an inverter coupled to the charge controller for converting DC power from the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels into AC power; and 
 a power outlet coupled to the inverter for providing AC power to electrical devices; 
 wherein the first beam and the second beam are parallel to the center axis of the trailer, the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels are each rotatable between vertical positions and angled positions over a rotational range that is greater than 90 degrees from the vertical positions; and 
 wherein the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels each have a light absorbing side and a back side and the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels have a vertical transportation position achieved by rotating the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels axially around the first beam and second beam respectively whereby the back sides of the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels faces away from the center axis of the trailer and the light absorbing sides of the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels faces inward towards the center axis of the trailer. 
 
     
     
       2. The portable solar power system of  claim 1  wherein an axis of rotation of the two wheels is substantially perpendicular to a first plane defined by the first group of solar panels and a second plane defined by the second group of solar panels in the vertical position. 
     
     
       3. The portable solar power system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a voltage transformer coupled between the inverter and the power outlet. 
 
     
     
       4. The portable solar power system of  claim 3  wherein the voltage transformer receives 120 volt AC from the inverter and transmits 240 volt AC to the power outlet. 
     
     
       5. The portable solar power system of  claim 1  wherein the first group of solar panels are electrically coupled in series and the second group of solar panels are electrically coupled in series. 
     
     
       6. The portable solar power system of  claim 1  wherein the battery comprises
 a plurality of battery units coupled in series. 
 
     
     
       7. The portable solar power system of  claim 1  wherein the battery is mounted on the center axis of the trailer between the two wheels. 
     
     
       8. The portable solar power system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 locking mechanisms coupled to the plurality of posts which allow the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels to be locked at different fixed rotational positions. 
 
     
     
       9. The portable solar power system of  claim 1  wherein the battery management system includes Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT). 
     
     
       10. The portable solar power system of  claim 1  wherein the battery management system includes Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). 
     
     
       11. A portable solar power system comprising:
 a trailer having a frame having a center axis, two wheels coupled to opposite sides of the center axis of the frame, a trailer hitch on the center axis and coupled to the frame for towing the trailer; 
 a plurality of posts mounted to the frame of the trailer; 
 a first beam rotatably coupled to two or more of the posts; 
 a first group of solar panels mounted on the first beam and rotatable between a vertical position and angled positions over a rotational range that is greater than 90 degrees; 
 a battery that is charged by the first group of solar panels; 
 an inverter coupled to the first group of solar panels and the battery for converting DC power into AC power; and 
 an electrical outlet coupled to the inverter for providing AC power; 
 wherein the first beam is parallel to the center axis of the trailer; and 
 wherein the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels each have a light absorbing side and a back side and the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels have a vertical transportation position achieved by rotating the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels axially around the first beam and second beam respectively whereby the back sides of the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels faces away from the center axis of the trailer and the light absorbing sides of the first group of solar panels and the second group of solar panels faces inward towards the center axis of the trailer. 
 
     
     
       12. The portable solar power system of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a second beam rotatably coupled to two or more of the posts; and a second group of solar panels mounted on the second beam and rotatable between a vertical position and angled positions over a rotational range that is greater than 90 degrees; 
 wherein the battery that is charged by the second group of solar panels, the inverter is coupled to the second group of solar panels and the second beam is parallel to the center axis of the trailer. 
 
     
     
       13. The portable solar power system of  claim 11  wherein an axis of rotation of the two wheels is substantially perpendicular to a first plane defined by the first group of solar panels and a second plane defined by the second group of solar panels in the vertical position. 
     
     
       14. The portable solar power system of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a battery management system coupled between the first group of solar panels and the battery, the battery management system receiving DC power from the first group of solar panels and transmitting the DC power to the battery and preventing the battery from being over charged. 
 
     
     
       15. The portable solar power system of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a voltage transformer coupled between the inverter and the power outlet. 
 
     
     
       16. The portable solar power system of  claim 11  wherein the battery pack is mounted on the center axis of the trailer between the two wheels. 
     
     
       17. The portable solar power system of  claim 11  further comprising:
 locking mechanisms coupled to the plurality of posts which allow the first group of solar panels to be locked at a fixed rotational position. 
 
     
     
       18. The portable solar power system of  claim 11  wherein the battery management system includes Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT).